Suspension Upheld In Police Chase

Wilson's Civil Service Commission on Wednesday upheld a three-day-suspension handed down by the mayor against an officer who became involved in a chase last December.

The commission let stand the suspension against officer Timothy Sullivan, who was suspended by Mayor David Schug without pay Feb. 1-3 after he pursued a car driven by Barry Rodenbough, 25, of Phillipsburg down Northampton Street through Wilson and Easton on Dec. 22.

The chase down Northampton Street, a 35 mph zone, at times reached speeds of up to 75 mph.

The commission, which held two days of hearings on the matter in March, determined that Sullivan should have immediately discontinued the chase because of the risk it posed to bystanders. Sullivan's attorney, Ralph Bellafatto, could not be reached for comment.

Police gave the following account of the incident:

Sullivan began pursuing Rodenbough shortly after he saw him driving through the parking lot of Kmart on 25th Street in Wilson without headlights. Rodenbough first tried slow evasive maneuvers in the parking lot, then violated traffic laws by pulling onto 25th Street in an attempt at further evasive action.

He eventually turned onto the Wood Street extension leading to Northampton Street, with Sullivan behind him, operating lights and sirens.

Rodenbough turned east onto Northampton Street at high speed and nearly hit a Wilson patrol car heading in the opposite direction on Northampton Street, near American Can.

Sullivan chased Rodenbough down the length of Northampton Street at speeds of 75 mph. Rodenbough's vehicle -- with Sullivan in pursuit -- ran seven red lights, sideswiped at least one vehicle in downtown Easton, caused several pedestrians to dodge out of the way at Northampton and 7th streets and went the wrong way on Center Square.

The two then proceeded south on Third Street, then east on Spring Garden Street, then east on Route 22 into Phillipsburg, where Rodenbough lost Sullivan. Phillipsburg police later arrested Rodenbough, who it was later discovered was wanted by authorities in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey on charges that included felony assault on a New Jersey police officer.

Commission solicitor Thomas Walters said Wilson police department policy dictates that an officer is involved in a high-speed chase once his vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit by 10 mph.

To continue the chase, Walters said, Sullivan would have had to determine that the danger of continuing the chase outweighed the need to immediately apprehend Rodenbough.

Walters said the commission had determined that was not the case, noting that Sullivan did not know that Rodenbough was a felon when he saw him.

Walters also noted that during the chase Sullivan had established Rodenbough's identity for later apprehension by radioing ahead for assistance from the Easton Police Department.

In its decision, the commission said it "is of the unanimous opinion that the actions of the appellant, once his vehicle moved onto Northampton Street and once he began to pursue the Rodenbough vehicle at speeds that approached 75 mph, clearly demonstrate a high-speed chase that had gotten so out of hand that to continue the same was unreasonable, and was as such a violation of the High Speed Vehicle Pursuit Policy of the Borough of Wilson."

Notified of the decision, Schug said, "Whether they went against me or for me, I would have stuck with their decision."